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Football: CU Buffs' Mike MacIntyre waiting to see what Sefo Liufau can do

By Kyle Ringo Buffzone.com

Posted:
07/29/2013 06:53:29 PM MDT

Updated:
07/30/2013 07:16:36 PM MDT

CU football coach Mike MacIntyre doesn't know which quarterback will see the most playing time this season.
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CLIFF GRASSMICK
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Mike MacIntyre doesn't know if he will play true freshman quarterback Sefo Liufau this season or if he will have the luxury of redshirting him.

He does know the odds of Liufau getting on the field have vastly increased over what they were at the end of spring football.

CU has seen three of the six quarterbacks on the roster in the spring leave the program. A fourth, last season's primary starter Jordan Webb, suffered a torn ACL and was arrested for an off-campus assault, significantly dimming his chances of playing a major role once again.

"All four of those kids are phenomenal workers," MacIntyre said. "It will be a good competition."

MacIntyre said whether he plays the 6-foot-4, 215 pound freshman from Tacoma, Wash., will largely depend on where he finishes fall camp in the pecking order of the four quarterbacks.

"If he is like the next guy and there is a big separation, I'm going to have to have him ready to play," MacIntyre said. "If I feel like another guy can be the second teamer or whatever and I feel like there is not a big separation, then it would be smart on my side to redshirt him. We don't know that yet, but I have thought about that exact question.

"Gosh, if he just plays a half or a game-and-a-half because he's your backup, that's not too smart. But if he's that much better than everybody else"

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MacIntyre said he likes having only four quarterbacks on the roster, though he will add a fifth in the 2014 recruiting class, assuming the four on the team now remain in the program for the next year. MacIntyre only had three quarterbacks on his roster a year ago at San Jose State and he needed all three at points in the season because of injuries.

In all three years MacIntyre has been a head coach, he has used at least three quarterbacks. It's a trend he would like to end this year. If the trend continues, it could mean the Buffs have a true freshman under center at some point this fall.

But that could happen without Liufau playing a starting role.

MacIntyre said the coaching staff will also be open to using Liufau in certain situations if they feel he can make plays and help the team win. What those situations are and how it all works remains to be seen and is dependent on how he performs in August.

"That would be something I would think about definitely doing because if they know they're going to go in the game, they focus so much better in practice, too," MacIntyre said.

Neuheisel returning to Boulder

Former Buffs coach Rick Neuheisel will be in Boulder Aug. 8, the third day of training camp, working on stories with the Pac-12 Network. Neuheisel is in his second season working as an analyst for the fledgling network.

Fans could get a chance to catch up with the program's former head coach (1995-98) at that day's practice.

Single-game tickets on sale Tuesday

Fans can purchase single game tickets to CU football games beginning Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. Single-game tickets start at $30 each and tickets for every home game are still available.

CU is offering three-game flex plans in additions to season tickets and single-game tickets. The three-game plans start at $126. Tickets can be purchased at CUBuffs.com/tickets or at the ticket office at Folsom Field or by calling 303-492-8337.

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